Board approves resolution backing regional water supply planning grant application

Madison County supervisors voted to approve Resolution No. 2025-2, endorsing local and regional water supply planning and supporting an application to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a fiscal-year 2025 water supply planning grant.

County staff explained the DEQ rule change extended planning windows and that the Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission is positioned to serve as the regional lead on the required planning effort. “The grant application is due March 31. The resolution technically is not due till June,” a county staff member explained, describing the timing mismatch and the regional commission’s ongoing role assisting the county on the water-supply plan.

The nut graf: the resolution authorizes the county to participate in a regional planning process led by the regional commission, supports the commission’s grant application, and directs county staff to provide required local information for the regional plan.

Meeting discussion clarified that the regional planning effort will compile locality plans into a regional submission and listed local authorities and service providers — including the service authority that operates major utilities — as participants in the planning unit. The board noted the resolution does not obligate the county to build regional reservoirs or to commit to specific infrastructure projects; it formalizes participation in a planning process and the county’s support for the commission’s grant application.

A motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-2 was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board directed staff to support the regional commission’s application and to provide the locality’s planning inputs as requested. Supervisors said the regional plan will reflect local efforts rather than prescribe specific joint infrastructure projects without subsequent approvals.